Will Pakistanis Be Able to See ‘Flower Moon’ Next Week?

Skywatchers in Pakistan and around the world will have the chance to witness the Flower Moon, the first full moon of May, as it appears in the night sky on Sunday, May 12. This month’s full moon will be slightly dimmer and smaller than usual, due to its position in the moon’s orbit, making it a micromoon.

The Flower Moon will rise in the eastern sky at dusk and remain visible throughout the night, setting in the west at dawn. In Pakistan, the moon will be visible after sunset on May 12, with near-full visibility also possible on the evenings of May 11 and May 13.

Unlike a supermoon, which occurs when the moon is closest to Earth and appears larger and brighter, a micromoon happens when the moon is at apogee, its farthest point from Earth in its elliptical orbit. As a result, the moon appears slightly smaller and less bright to the naked eye.

The Flower Moon will reach its full phase at 9:56 PM PKT after nightfall in Pakistan. Viewers are encouraged to find locations with an unobstructed eastern horizon for the best viewing experience. Local moonrise times may vary by region.

As it rises or sets, the Flower Moon may take on a warm orange hue, a visual effect caused by Rayleigh scattering, the same atmospheric phenomenon responsible for red sunsets. The Earth’s atmosphere scatters shorter blue wavelengths of light, allowing longer red and orange wavelengths to dominate the moon’s appearance near the horizon.

The next full moon, known as the Strawberry Moon, will rise on June 11, marking the last full moon before the June 21 summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.